CA Sri Lanka conference: Human beings responsible for destroying the planet
Mr. Manil Jayesinghe speaking at the conference.
The world faces the unprecedented and multiple crisis of climate change due to nature’s degradation and pollution where the hottest decade is recorded in history. “We have seen this summer, raging forest fires and floods and sandstorms in many parts of the world including Turkey, Germany and the US where they had to close down some of the busiest air ports. This had caused destructions of homes and lands used for agriculture compounded by the COVID -19 Pandemic causing a tremendous socio impact,” said Dr. Iyad Abumoghll, Founder and Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Faith for Earth Initiative.
He was delivering the keynote address in an online presentation at the 20th CAPA (Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants) Conference and the 42 National conference of Chartered Accountants (CA Sri Lanka) Conference held in Colombo this week. The October 6-8 conference on the theme “Heritage: Many Businesses, One Planet”, drew delegates from 30 countries, many connecting virtually due to travel restrictions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that people have been wasting 30-40 percent of food before it gets to their table to be consumed. Humans are the biggest contributors to climate change by increasing carbon dioxide to the atmosphere which is causing global warming. The population in 1900 was 2 billion people and will increase to 9 billion in another 20 years causing an exhaustion of natural resources of the earth.
“We consume more natural resources every year than we generate. If we continue to live in this fashion we will need two planets for us to live. Sustainability of living can be achieved only when countries contribute with other countries. Sustainability consists of social, environmental and economic development of countries. An ethical approach too is needed to develop accountability for the people and for the planet. We also work with faith institutions round the world to develop sustainability as millions of people have faith in them,” he said.
President of CA Sri Lanka Manil Jayesinghe said that CAPA and the 42nd National conference of the Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka has unveiled the biggest accounting regional assembles ever to be hosted in the country.
It was unfortunate that COVID-19 prevented foreign delegates visiting Sri Lanka. “Without our help very few companies will be able to understand reorganisation measure and communicate their results of their business in a credible manner. Climate change and the depletion of natural resources are often the result of man -made choices. We have to now focus on promoting greener investment to safeguard our planet. It is time to revalue our priorities to protect our planet. The world has many businesses but we have one planet,” he said.
Climate change is recognised as the biggest threat to humanity. A global increase of 1.5 degrees of centigrade above the pre-industrial stage and continuous loss of bio-diversity risks catastrophic harm to health. Air pollution has also contributed to the deaths of nine million people a year. Climate change is causing wild fires which is toxic. In the past 30 years floods in Sri Lanka have affected 10 million people due to increased rain intensity and reduced forest cover. He said the Asia Pacific region is rich in bio-diversity which is found nowhere in the planet. CAPA President Dr. Chen Yugul also spoke.